LRF over ePUB on the Sony any day.
Caveat: This assumes you have the book in some format (html, txt, etc.) and you are
converting it to LRF/ePUB. If you are stuck choosing one format to keep "forever" (not converting), then let's be honest: LRF is dead, and ePUB is where you should go.
But I always convert.
LRF just plain works better on the majority of Sony models. LRFs are clean, well-formatted, and
look like books while ePUBs look totally unprofessional. Whenever I buy a book from the Sony Store, it looks so "kludgey," I feel like I'm reading something I downloaded from a pirate site.
Let me explain starting here...
Quote:
Originally Posted by doreenjoy
That's my point. The EPUB page numbers match regardless of font size. In LRF, the page numbers change if you change the font size, thus rendering references meaningless.
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JSWolf addressed this. But he left out that ePUB page numbers are determined by some algorithm. It's programmed based on number of words or something. Basically, it's absolutely, completely arbitrary! If you use a different ePUB reader, you will potentially get different numbering than ADE's algorithm assigns. So it's not consistent. Caveat: ePUBs have a way to assign page numbering built-in (most books don't use this facility), so those particularly books that
do use the facility are consistent across platforms.
Okay, so the reasons I prefer LRF is that it looks like a book (I'm talking about novels, not text books). Here's we go..
- LRFs have headers. Books have headers.
When I turn on my reader, I want to know what book/chapter/page I'm on at a glance. LRF accomplishes this, but it's impossible in ePUB without a major hack.
- LRFs are right justified. Books are right justified.
The even margin is easier on the eyes. That ePUBs can't be justified on pre-x50 models is mind boggling.
- LRF's paragraphs separate on Tab, not Linefeed. Books, same.
What book have you ever read that puts a vertical whitepspace (linefeed) between
every pagraph? None of 'em. Books dilineate paragraphs using a tab (indent).
The thing with ePUB is that it's an HTML-based format, so it tends to "look like" HTML. Web Pages generally dilineate paragraphs by a vertical whitespace, and so do ePUBs. This isn't how books do it, and it's not how an e-Reader should do it either.
Caveat: You can format your ePUB to use a tab instead of vertical whitespace for paragraphs, but it isn't easy.
- LRFs have margins (in general). Books have margins.
By this I mean there is a bit of whitepsace on the top/left/bottom/right margins, separating the text from the edge of the reader. While it's better to fill the e-Ink screen completely (no margins) in terms of word-per-page optimization, books don't do this: every book has whitespace margins. I find this more aesthetically pleasing because it's more book-like.
Yes, ePUBs can do the same, but it's easier with LRF. On the flip-side, LRFs can also be formatted without the margin if that's your preference.
- LRF is faster.
My LRF version of the NIV Bible would cause spinning arrow at opening/initial formatting. But once I navigate to a book/chapter, I jump there -- slowly, yes, but at least it doesn't give the spin.
My ePUB version of
the exact same NIV Bible spins on opening too. Then, if I'm at the beginning of a book and select a chapter, I get the spinning arrows as it searches for that chapter. It takes far longer than the LRF version, and I roll my eyes every time, ugh! And this is on my sprightly PRS-600.
LRFs do not have page numbers bleeding into the text.
To even say this is insane. What bozo allowed this through QC? I'm reading an ePUB, and the last word in a long column has a page number
over it??? And Sony passes this software through testing? And hasn't fixed the problem? It's such a turkey of a "feature," the programmer should be fired, plain and simple. (I know it's Adobe's fault, but Sony signed off on it.)
LRF's font is better.
Yeah, personal preference. Yeah, you can change the font in an ePUB. But there it is.
LRFs are just plain more book-like than ePUB at this point. Yes, you have more flexibility with ePUB and can make it look like a book (ignoring the right justification bug). But you have your work cut out for you! A good conversion program like
pielrf will auto-format for you, and you have the most book-like experience possible on a Sony Reader.
-Pie